Halloween at the Harry Potter Studio Tour

My love affair with Harry Potter started purely by chance. My parents had taken Sister and myself to a massive WH Smith and told us we were both allowed to buy one book each. As both of us were, and still are, massive readers, this was the best gift in the world. I can’t remember which section caught Sister’s attention but I headed straight for The Babysitter’s Club.

My Dad on the other hand, looked at general children’s fiction and pulled out a book which had an interesting looking spine. This was Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. I wasn’t particularly interested in it – it didn’t have babysitter’s after all – but he and Sister were and they bought the first two books.

That was the beginning of the beginning. The two of us have loved the books and audiobooks (Stephen Fry narrating? What dreams are made of) but neither of us were particularly bothered about the Harry Potter Studio Tour when it first opened in Watford. But then, again purely by chance I read what they planned to do for Halloween. Death Eaters. Troll Slime. Unicorn Blood. Duelling classes. Yeah, I was there. And it was glorious.

With a Death Eater and a fellow Slytherin

In this picture you can just about see my leggings. My Harry Potter leggings. More specifically my Daily Prophet leggings from Black Milk Clothing. They are expensive and I did have to think twice before buying them, but they are wonderful quality and thick. Plus they are Harry Potter, so there is that.

Barrels of Butterbeer

This beverage is delicious, mainly because of the butter. What I have discovered subsequently is that Starbucks have a hot and cold version which you can ask them to make. Having tried both, I recommend the cold. As a warning they are both incredibly sweet.

Daily Prophet – He Who Must Not Be Named Returns

Dear Mr H Potter…

Death Eaters in Diagon Alley

This was by far the coolest bit. Diagon Alley full of roaming Death Eaters? Yes please!

Entrance to the Chamber of Secrets

In the movies this prop always looked massive and I suppose that is the magic of the camera because it really wasn’t all that big.

Models of Thestrals

Shopping at Ollivanders

Going to Ollivaders right at the end was made all the more entertaining by the fact that all the wand boxes are individually named with members of the cast and crew from all the movies. Sister and I spent a lovely time finding all the names. This stop was also just after the massive finale, one which I won’t spoil for you all with pictures. Right at the end of the tour you have the actual model of Hogwarts Castle that was used in the movies.

That needs to be seen to be appreciated because it took my breath away.

I wanted so much to love this tour when I booked it and I didn’t want it to ruin Harry Potter for me (how it would do that, I have no idea). I have no idea if I will ever go again but it was brilliant and I am very glad I went.